Solstice & Equinox Celebrations

Four times a year, we celebrate the earth.  Let us celebrate together!

Solstice and Equinox Celebrations at the Solar Living Institute - Mar 21st, Jun 21st, Sep 213rd, Dec 21st - Rain or Shine 4:30pm at the Central Oasis.

by Jini Reynolds

We must make the time to celebrate, and to celebrate as often as we can. Equinox and Solstice celebrations are especially important. The seasons are changing all around the world at the same time, and all beings are gearing up for new beginnings and putting the previous season to rest. All over the world, all humans, whatever their religion or place on the planet, celebrate the changing of the seasons.  Everyone shares this time.

I’ve been leading Celebration at the Solar Living Institute for the entire time that the SLI has been in Hopland at the Real Goods Solar Living Center.  It’s a tradition.  The original land is Pomo Indian land located in a flood plain.  More recently, however, it was used as a lumber yard, and a Department of Transportation rubblefield.  In the mid-nineties, Real Goods built a beautiful eco-village, transforming the site into a bio-oasis.

At any moment of celebration, and especially at equinox and solstice time, we can let go of what we’ve just been through and start anew, remember what we are looking forward to, and set intentions. Being together with others in celebration, we can bring our consciousness to our mother and refocus our work and awareness for the greater good. We can align ourselves with the coming seasons, rethink the needs of our planet ourselves and those around us, and give voice to this new plan.  And then we can celebrate this new awareness, how we can work together and create the support to pull it off.  In these times of trouble and change and an unknown future, celebration enables us to prepare for our future.

Four times a year, we celebrate the earth.  Let us celebrate together.

• Celebration is a dramatic act of graciousness.
• Celebration is bringing something to its fullest power.
• Celebration is an outward singing, drumming, music, dancing, prayers, working with the earth, sharing food and drink.  It can also be meditative and inward.
• Celebration is a commitment.  Once you’ve celebrated something, you’ve committed to the cycle, which is sustainable.
• Celebration separates thriving and surviving.  When we celebrate, we feel we are thriving.  Just being able to celebrate means we are thriving.  Celebration is the map to life. People light up in celebration; their spirits are lifted.  When someone is high-spirited, they’re celebrating.

You're welcome to bring instruments, food to share, and a celebratory spirit!

Directions:  Click here.